What it means
If you do not log in or trade for a long period, many brokers archive the account (move it to inactive status) and some charge an inactivity fee from any remaining balance. Archiving does not usually mean your money is gone — it means the account is dormant and needs reactivating.
Common causes
No trading activity for the period set in the broker's terms (often several months to a year). No logins for a long stretch. An expired demo. Sometimes an inactivity fee gradually reducing a small leftover balance.
How to reactivate
Log in through the platform or client area; some accounts reactivate on their own. If it will not connect, contact support and ask them to reactivate it and confirm any remaining balance. You may need to re-verify your identity if a long time has passed. Ask specifically about any inactivity fees charged and the current balance.
How to prevent it
If you plan a break, withdraw funds you are not using rather than leaving them to inactivity fees. Log in occasionally to keep the account live. Read the broker's terms on inactivity so the timeline is no surprise.
Broker's fault or yours?
Archiving and disclosed inactivity fees are normal policy, not a fault, as long as they were in the terms. If a broker refuses to reactivate or cannot account for your balance, that is a serious problem to escalate.